The Washington critic., 1887-07-22
LOST AND FOUND.
A Story ofthe Empress Josephine and
Her Wedding Ring.

lution. The Reign of Terror was liv-
ing its last hours. In one Of the dark
prisons Of the old Luxemburg Chateau
was seated a young woman, her beau
tiful eyes red from weeping, and her
head leaning thoughtfully on her
hand. 1t was Josephine Beauharnais,
who had that same morning become a
widow. On the stone floor of her cell,
wet with tears, lay the last letter of her
husband, General Beauharnais, in
which he bade her farewell before de.
parting for the insatia BILE guillotine.
Her crime consisted In having wished
10 save him, and this was enough to
procure her death on the guillotine
also. She summoned up her courage;
the Terrible had now no more terror
for her. To morrow, to morrow, per.
haps, all would be over.
Suddenly, as II not wanting to lose
this favorable moment, she drew her
mothers ring from her finger, kissed
1t again and again with tears. and ex.
claimed: "You shall not fail into the
hands of the eXecutioncr. | will
surely be able to find some place here
where you can be buried" She ex-
amined the floor, and soon perceiving
a loose stone, lifted 1t up and buried
the ring In the dust which lay in the
cavity; then she closed the hiding
place carefully again.
But Josephine's fate did not conduct
her TO the guillotine. Four days later
the Reign of Terror ceased with the
fall of Robespierre, and the prison
doors were opened Two years had
not passed before the yet handsome
widow gave her hand TO young Gen.
eral of rising military glorv-Napoleon
BonapaIte A few weeks later she was
the proud witness of the triumphs
which were celebrated in Italy In honor
of her husband, the hero of innumer.
able brilliant victories. Then came the
18th Brumaire; Napoleon was pro.
claimed Consul; his residence was the
Chateau of Luxembourg.
Josephine remembered her hidden
ring. 1t was treasure for her which
chained her to the past. Bonapartc
accompanied her TO the cell where she
easily found, and Josephine soon held
up the ring of her mother with cry of
Joy. The wife of Consul Bonaparte
was proud of Nine. de Beauharnais.
She placed the precious souvenir on her
finger, by the side of Napoleon's wed.
ding ring. Years passed. Josephine
had become Empress. She sat beside
one of the conquerors of the world, on
the most powerful throne of the uni.
verse. The war with Austria stood
again on the threshold, and Napoleon
came TO take leave of the Empress be.
fore starting on the campaign. He
kissed her noble forehead, he pressed
her hand.
"Madame." he suddenly exclaimed
in astonishment and displeasure, as he
raised the third finger of her hand,
"wherel Is your ring ~
Startled and terrified at his harsh
tones, Josephine glanced hastily at her
hand and to her surprise and distress
saw that her wedding ring had dis.
appeared-inexplicably disappeared.
Search was made, but in vain; not q
trace of It could be discovered. Vexed
and morose, the Emperor bade his
weeping wife farewell and left, to re.
turn again a conqueror-with a prin.
cess as his bride.
But where was Josephines ring /
Repeatedly was It searched for every
corner thoroughly examined; but Its
fate remained hidden In mystery up to
the time of Josephine's death, which
occurred at the moment her husband S
star sank; the long lost ring having
then no further significance for her.
Thirty years had passed by; Napoleon
was no more. He expired on the 9th
of May, 1921. His son was dead Also
The inheritor of the claims the to
dynasty Louis Napoleon, was fugitive
in London. His hopes were extinct; to
look forward to the future seemed to
him to be quite useless effort of
patience.
One evening at an entertainment he
was introduced 10 young and beauti.
full Spanish lady, the Countess Eugene
tli Montijo. This lively and agreeable
young girl attracted him greatly, and
he showed her marked attention.
which 1t was quite evident she received
with as much pleasure as II was ren.
dered. During the evening the Prince
observed with astonishment wedding
ring on her finger, and could not re-
frain from remark about this strange
ornament for young girl The
Countess unhesitatingly related the
story Of the ring. During the course
of her recital the Prince became greatly
excited and interested.
Eugenie had received the ring as a
present from her mother, who, when Ia
lNtIC Elllt CNlllS ppseCGsiOL VI llG
same In the slrangest manner.
In the year 1909 Count di Montiio
lived at Paris as French officer. His
daughter, Eugenie's mother, was accus.
toned, when the weather was favor
able, to play In the Tulleries In the
afternoon under the surveillance of hcl
governess. One day on the way home
the three year old child showed her {
small gold hoop which she said had
been given her by little boy with
whom she had been playing In the
sand. The goyerness Immediately re
turned to the park, but not the slightest
trace of the child could be discovered
either that day or the subsequent one
So 1t remained In the little girls pos
session among her other iewelry, AM
was almost forgotten as time passed
When she grew to womanhood shl
married an uncle, and on the 9th o
May, 1926, Eugenie first saw the light
of day
AS souvenir of this event she had
the date of the 9th Of May engraved In
the ring, for which she felt n peculiar
veneration; and Eugenie had worn the
same siRce her confirmation, as Il
precious souvenir of her mother. The
Spanish lady drew the circlet from hei
finger and handed 1t TO the Prince. II
the ring was engraved the 9th of May
the birthday of the young lady and the
day of Napoleon's decease, Beside!
this were the initials j, B. and N. b,
This is the wedding ring of the Z II
press josephine, exclaimed the Prince
excited over this strange coincidence
"Ihe loss of this ring has always been
incxplicable, and great sorrow to al
of us, The secret Is discovered, The
little boy who was playing in the sand